Happy Birthday: Joining Forces

Travel with the First Lady: Joining Forces Anniversary

April 19, 2012 | 5:12 | Public Domain

Welcome On Board with the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. The First Lady hit the road to mark the one year anniversary of Joining Forces, the nationwide intiative that she started with Second Lady and military mom Dr. Jill Biden. During the trip to highlight the progress the Joining Forces intiative has made in mobilizing communities to come together and provide Business, Education, and Health and Wellness opportunities to veterans and military families, The First Lady honored the Joining Forces Community Challenge winners, announced a new partnership to train 3 million nurses, stopped by The Colbert Report, celebrated the Joining Forces 50,000th hire and was joined by Ellen DeGeneres at an event honoring and recognizing the high school children of service members. http://www.joiningforces.gov


First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden celebrate the first anniversary of the Joining Forces initiative with events in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., New York, N.Y., Shreveport, La., and Jacksonville, Fla.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden kick off a Joining Forces Community Challenge event to celebrate the first anniversary of the initiative on the South Lawn of the White House, April 11, 2012. The celebration focused on military families and organization leaders who have played key roles in supporting our nation’s troops, veterans and families. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Sherman and Tammie Gillums look at their pictures with First Lady Michelle Obama as Mrs. Obama continues to greets guests at the Joining Forces Community Challenge event on the South Lawn of the White House, April 11, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

 First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are introduced during a Joining Forces nurses event in the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., April 11, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Participants listen as First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a Joining Forces nurses event in the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., April 11, 2012. The First Lady and Dr. Biden announced a major initiative by more than 150 of America’s leading nursing organizations and more than 450 nursing schools in 50 states and territories to ensure our nation’s nurses are prepared to help meet the unique health needs of service members, veterans, and their families. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden participate in a Joining Forces nurses event in the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., April 11, 2012. Nursing leaders have committed to educating current and future nurses on how to recognize and care for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related issues. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Dr. Jill Biden greets guests following a Joining Forces event in the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., April 11, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 First Lady Michelle Obama participates in an interview with Stephen Colbert during a taping of “The Colbert Report” at the Colbert Report Studio in New York, N.Y., April 11, 2012. Family members of troops deployed to Afghanistan were part of the show's audience. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during an event announcing the 50,000th veteran or military spouse to have been hired by a company through the Joining Forces initiative, at Kansas City Southern Railroad Yard in Shreveport, La., April 12, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 First Lady Michelle Obama is briefed by Aaron Pinkston and Derrick Westervelt, producers for the “Ellen Show,” backstage before a Joining Forces event at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Sailors wait on the edge of a aircraft hangar before the start of a Joining Forces event at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a prom fashion show segment during a a Joining Forces event at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2012. Some 300 teenage girls from military families attended the event, which featured a surprise appearance by Ellen DeGeneres, gift cards from JC Penney, and a fashion show with Ann Shoket, Editor of Seventeen magazine.(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Audience members photograph during a Joining Forces event with First Lady Michelle Obama at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

 Choreographer Rosero McCoy teaches First Lady Michelle Obama and teen participants a dance during a Joining Forces Event at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., April 12, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Marking The First Anniversary Of Joining Forces

More pictures from the first year